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GMU 218 Chewuch Hunting, Washington

GMU 218 (Chewuch): 95% public land, habitat grade C+, deer ★★★☆☆, 472 mi².

DeerPublic Land
A+
Best public habitat: 76 / 100 Top public open-access cell in the unit
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Tap anywhere on the map to move the pin, then hit Analyze to open that exact spot in HuntVantage for a live 0–100 score with per-species ratings.

HuntVantage habitat grade

C+
Grade C+ — mean HuntScore 48/100 averaged across public open-access land · 1890 habitat cells · 472 mi²
A+ 0%A 1%B+ 2%B 11%C+ 50%C 24%D 9%F 2%

Grade distribution of the habitat cells inside the unit — higher-scoring cells are the pockets worth scouting first. HuntVantage weighs cover, water, food, hunting pressure, and habitat diversity from public land-cover and land-ownership data.

Per-species ratings

Overall grade measures general habitat; these species ratings re-weight the same factors for each animal’s needs — the number that matters for a species-specific hunt.

Deer
★★★☆☆
51/100 habitat
Elk
★★★★☆
67/100 habitat
Waterfowl
★★☆☆☆
28/100 habitat
Turkey
★★★☆☆
48/100 habitat
Black Bear
★★★★☆
66/100 habitat
Wild Boar
★★★☆☆
47/100 habitat

Public land & access

95% of GMU 218 is public land; 95% is public and open-access.

Almost entirely public — the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest up the Chewuch drainage, running to the Pasayten Wilderness, with a little WDFW and DNR ground.

US Forest Service 1755 cellsWDFW 30 cellsWA DNR 4 cellsBLM 1 cellsPrivate conservation 1 cells
open access: 1789unknown access: 99restricted access: 2

Ownership from PAD-US; a cell is one ~0.46 km habitat hexagon. Verify boundaries and access on the ground — inholdings and seasonal closures aren’t shown here.

Hunting prospects

General season

GMU 218 (Chewuch) follows the Chewuch River north of Winthrop deep into the Methow's high country — nearly all national forest, backing to the Pasayten Wilderness. It's storied general-season mule deer country: hunt the high basins and timberline edges early, then follow deer down the ridges as snow builds. Confirm the current general buck and any permit seasons with WDFW.

Scout the best spots in this unit

The highest-scoring public open-access habitat cells in GMU 218. Open any one in HuntVantage to see its live score and per-species breakdown.

A+
Score 76/10048.5575, -120.3510
A+
Score 76/10048.7627, -119.9688
A+
Score 75/10048.7502, -119.9642
A+
Score 73/10048.5495, -120.3227
A+
Score 73/10048.7349, -119.9395

Nearby units & guides

Sources: wdfw.wa.gov · wdfw.wa.gov · geodataservices.wdfw.wa.gov. HuntVantage habitat grades are independent of WDFW.

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Frequently asked questions

How much of GMU 218 (Chewuch) is public land?
About 95% of GMU 218 is public land, and 95% is public and open-access, managed mainly by the US Forest Service.
What can you hunt in GMU 218?
By habitat, the unit rates best for deer (3/5). Its overall habitat grade is C+ (mean HuntScore 48/100 across public open-access land).
Is GMU 218 good for deer hunting?
HuntVantage rates deer habitat in GMU 218 at 3/5 (51/100). That's a habitat model — scout the higher-scoring cells and verify seasons with WDFW.
What season is GMU 218?
General season. Always confirm current seasons, weapon choices, and permit requirements in the WDFW regulations before hunting.